Check Out Tamika Bell’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamika Bell.

Hi Tamika, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Tamika Bell and I am the owner of “Fairy Craft Motha” Mobile Therapuertic Art Life Coaching and Craft services. I am originally from Harlem, NY but have been in the Phoenix, AZ area since 2012. I am a mother of four (two biological and 2 bonus kids), wife, sister, daughter, auntie, small business owner and of course godmother (hence the business name Fairy Craft Motha). I have a passion for cooking, crafting, and creating safe spaces for others to express themselves.

I have always loved to craft and provide personalized gifts to friends and family. I believe that gifts carry energy and intention, therefore one should always consider the recipient when choosing gifts to make sure that they understand the giver’s intent. I have always been creative and started making family and friends handmade gifts years ago. From there, this passion turned into my business. While out networking and building my business, I have had a few mentors along the way that helped me realize that I have so much more to give than handmade gifts. I have a voice and a presence that resonates with others.

Fairy Craft Motha started out as a handmade crafting business that was established in 2021 in Surprise, AZ. It has evolved to primarily provide Therapeutic Art Life Coaching services while still sticking to its roots as a handmade crafting business. Currently, we offer Mobile Arts & Crafts sessions, themed party/home decor, flyers, business cards, DIY crafting kits, apparel, custom drinkware, diaper cakes, and other novelty items.

One day I received a call asking me if I could bring my services to an addiction recovery center. Although, I had never facilitated a class before I jumped at the opportunity. After conducting this first class, the mission and purpose of Fairy Craft Motha morphed into what we have today. The goal is to introduce and foster creative safe spaces for people from all walks of life to express their emotions without the requirement of doing so verbally. Being a person that was often branded with the stigma of being “antisocial or an introvert” doing this work allows me to foster others like me and help them in a way that I wasn’t.

As a Therapeutic Art Life Coach, I facilitate mobile crafting classes that include one on one or group sessions, public events, and private parties. The sessions are great for Team Building activities, Diversity & Inclusion events, Date Night, Mommy & Me, Community events, Addition & Recovery, Bridal Showers, Birthday Parties and so much more. Sessions are currently offered in person, the one-on-one sessions have a virtual option as well.

Through the continuing encouragement of my support system, Fairy Craft Motha is evolving.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. However, anything worth having is worth fighting for!

When I was younger, I had very little self-esteem and always was very selective socially. Due to this, I have spent many years not really knowing my worth. When I started this business, I had a completely different goal. Make cute novelty items and sell them, create custom items to promote diversity and individuality, craft personalize gift items to ensure that the recipient could see the giver took the time to add intent to the gift.

I have never been a saleswoman, I did not do public speaking, and always had this intense fear of failure that I could not shake. Venturing into being an entrepreneur challenged all of these things. How could I be successful if I wasn’t willing to be a saleswoman? How could I spread my message and intent if I was not willing to speak publicly? Most importantly, how was I going to be successful if I led with crippling fear instead of faith in who I am?

Self-reflection and having mentors are helping me through these things. I began to go to networking events on my own and I met Chef Nik Fields of Chic Chef Co who has been an inspiration since our first conversation and continues to do so. As soon as I started my business, I knew I wanted to conduct myself with a certain level of prestige and persona. For guidance on that, I refer back to Master Hairstylist Arlette Pender who I met when I first came to Arizona and who has been unknowingly mentoring me ever since she asked my daughter to be in one of her hair shows. Robin Horace of 7 Figure Me has been pivotal in helping me through this current transition and rebranding of Fairy Craft Motha through coaching and helping me set goals and plan my next steps for growth. These amazing women have inspired me, directed me, and helped me define my nitch in the business world.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the very surface, what I do is Arts & Crafts. One may ask if I am an Art Teacher or Art Therapist and the answer is no. I am a Certified Therapeutic Art Life Skills Coach. You may also hear me refer to myself as a Creativity Coordinator in some spaces.

At the core, I am a spiritually fluid individual that is working to help heal others and provide coping skills, safe spaces, and education to those that are in need of someone that will allow them to express their needs without the stigma of structure or institutionalization. In this space, I can be the bridge between a client and a therapist(Unfortunately for many, especially in the African American community going to seek help for mental health issues is seen as a sign of weakness or people fear being branded as “crazy” so going to see a therapist can be very unappealing. I can be another outlet in addition to traditional therapy if someone is already being treated. In the Creativity Coordinator space, I am the cool spiritual art lady that has fun, makes messes, and builds new relationships between people and their creative side.

Currently, what I am most proud of is this business. I am proud of how it is evolving, proud that it is helping others but most of all, proud that others are noticing that my services are not a “trend” and that they can be beneficial to the masses.

Perception is key and my idea of what sets me apart from others is going to be different from what someone else thinks sets me apart. What I think sets me apart is the tone that I set with every interaction. I will try to explain it in words but it is something that you would have to experience to understand. Being a person that has always been somewhat of a chameleon visually and mentally has allowed me to have many interactions with people from all walks of life. This has allowed me to absorb knowledge on many different cultures and beliefs. Having this advantage as well as being sensitive to energies and emotions, gives me the upper hand when “reading the room” and deciding how to interact with them. Instead of coming into spaces with a strictly structured approach, I am able to be easily adaptable and able to accommodate different needs and personalities. I am also extremely transparent and I never expect perfection because that is not the goal. This allows me to connect with people in a way that I never expected and am just now starting to understand. I never really understood why people were drawn to me when I was so often dismissed as antisocial or an outcast. Now I get it, and I can help others.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Being that I am in a few different industries, it is hard to say. I am in Art, Coaching, Mental Health & Wellness as well as Recreational Services. Two of the four will absolutely fluctuate with the economy over the years. Meaning the more disposable income people have will increase the growth and revenue of the Art(Crafts) and Recreational Services. Consequently, the less disposable income people have will stagnant growth under those monikers.

The other two Coaching, along with Mental Health & Wellness will be stable and continue to grow. Now that we as a people have realized how important Mental Health & Wellness are to make sure that we are emotionally and mentally stable to function and have a fruitful, successful life, it will continue to be at the forefront of our everyday lives.

I think we will see more people that did not feel they fit into a traditional profession finding ways to educate and help others that have like minds and similar goals. Coaching services allow people to do that without incurring the debt of traditional education. Not that I am opposed to textbook learning but there is more to this life than anything in a book and I feel that the industry of Coaching adds a level of real-life application to basic skills in a targeted market. My father always said education begins at home. Coaching services align with this theory. Think of your coach as your second home.

Pricing:

• Group/Class sessions: Starting at $50/hr
• Private sessions: Starting at $40/hr
• Parties: Starting at $100/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fairycmotha.page
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/fairy_craftmotha
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/fairycraftmotha

Image Credits
Fairy Craft Motha
Phoenix Life Saver Network
Tina Marie and the Bridge Builders Social Club
Chic Chef Co.